St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-05
vas furious with me for wishing to marry

|
nit the ancient blood of the Greshams
to descend to trade In vain told him
that commerce had made England the
wealthiest country of Europe, that the
enterprise of her merchants had added
more territory to Great Britain than the
bravery of her soldiers, that the rulers
of Venice, Florence and Genoa were
merchants when these cities were most
f1ourishing, and monarchs courted their
friendship. He would not listen to me,
but babe me give up all thought of so
degrading a connection. What was to
do? l was as the poet says, in the rich
bloom of the 'kingly state of youth'-in
love with being possessing all the at
fractions of her lovely sex. Was a
brothers unreasonable pride to keep me
from the paradise of mutual love? Love
laughs at locksmiths, and I determined
to laugh at a brothers threat. [ knew
he had 100000 lying idle in the Bank of
England, half of which would make me
the happiest man in the world. SO
borrowed" 10000 from him, thinking
/ could replace it before it was missed. l
bought an interest in Mr. Eaton's bust
ness, and in six weeks was to be married,
when suddenly my brother heard of an
opportunity to invest f15,O00. He drew
on the bank for the amount and was in
formed that he had overdrawn his &C.
count $4,000. Thunderstruck at this in
telligence, he fastened to the bank to in
quire about the matter and was shown
check for 10000, drawn six weeks be-
FORE He saw it was forgery, but sus-
pecting | was the guilty party, he said it
was all right, put the check in his pocket
and left the bank"
What followed this discovery; did
your brother expose you?'
Expose me! Never. He would
rather lose his right hand than suf-
fer the proud name of Gresham to
be dishonored He sent for me,
showed me the fatal check, and with
the look and voice Of the elder Brutus,
said that | was the first of long and
illustrious race that had ever been guilty
of criminal act; that in the eyes of the
law | was a felon, liable to be sent to
penal servitude for life, but not wishing
to have his ancient and honorable name
disgraced, he would spare me upon one
condition, and one only. The condition
was that | should bind myself by solemn
VOW to retire to the castle of my anCes-
tors, there to live in perpetual seclusion,
that | might be away from temptation
anu TeuNeIcu luCdJaUi VI any AuIuiS
crime. Though the condition was hard,
| had to submit. Thus it happened that l
disappeared forever from the living,
breathing world. was secretly brought
to these apartments in the dead of night,
my brother and an old family servant
alone being aware of my presence here.
And so have lived for twenty five years,
seeing no human being, except the old
| ubo briDrS my mp9 Is "
What became of the lady to whom
you were engaged"
81 know not. | was not allowed to
communicate with her. She does not
know whether | am dead or alive"
"A strange revelationW
Strange, but true. [ had to choose
between penal servitude and disgrace and
perpetual solitude here. But how came
YOU to be put in this room?"
THE castle is crowded, Sir George
away, and | arrived Late
My brother was just married when l
came here-has he any children?"
"A son and two daughters. | am en-
gagged to the younger
And who are you to be deemed
worthy to marry daughter of the house
| of Gresham?"
81 am an American, therefore king
by right of birth worthy to wed the
daughter of the proudest house of
Europe, but more worthy to wed Mary
Gresham by the power of almighty love
that does make the beggar-maid the
equal of the sceptred monarch
Il am surprised that my brother rec
ognized so fanciful claim to equality"
Sir George Gresham may be hard,
Stern and even cruel when the honor of
his family is concerned, but he is man
of noble impulses and elevated senti-
ments He is bound to me by the
strongest tie of gratitude that one man
can have for another. I saved the pre-
cious life of his idolized son, the only
hope of his family. That one act, he
said, made him my debtor forever. His
| daughter, however, is bound to me by
| sweeter sentiment than gratitude. She
| has blessed me with the richest gift
| this earth affords-the true love of
woman. We are to be married next
month, and, after a brief tour on the
continent, make our future home in
America"
The next morning told Mary of the
strange discovery of the previous night.
A generous purpose leaped in her heart.
Il will ask it as wedding present
from my father" Mary suddenly ex-
claimed
ASK what"
''The release of my poor, unfortunate
uncle from his long confinement"
"And we will take him to America
with us" said. ''In a new country, he
can begin a new life. In the meantime,
tell no one of your uncles existence, not
even your bro Their and sister,"
Sir George Gresham released his brother
from his promise of perpetual seclusion,
on condition that he would leave England
forever. Upsn inquiry, Grace Eaton was
found. She was still unmarried, and liv-
ing in elegant retirement at Islington.
Her father and sister were dead, and she
had inherited fortune of 100000. Regi-
maid Gresham went to see her, told her
the whole of his sad story, and in short
their engagement was renewed, and they
were married in quiet chapel near
Canonsbury Park, joined Mary and me
in Paris, and sailed with us in Havre
steamer for the United States.
Before leaving England Grace insisted
upon paying back the 10000, with in
terest, for the taking of which the Occu-
pant of the Vacant Room had been 80
long and fearfully punished.
LOUIS NoRTHRoP.
About Slate Pencils.